Here's me on NYE
 

As the title says, this is me, about 6 weeks ago. Since then I've started the 30DS and P90X. And I THINK I've toned up a bit. But here's me on New Year's Eve in a shady hotel room:

http://i49.tinypic.com/2nc2q8n.jpg

I'm a size 8 in Old Navy jeans, which translates to a size 10 because of vanity sizing? But it's been loose lately in the legs, but not in the tummy region. I wear a size 6 Gap skirt. Anyway, whatever. This is a Zara black dress, medium. A muffin top and needing to tone up my legs and arms.

Too cute Allison!

It's amazing how many more pictures "turn out" when I'm not bulging out of my clothes, lol.

These pictures were taken at the barn I work at. Those are size 6 slim boot American Eagle jeans (I know AE has vanity sizing, but I've always bought AE jeans...so comparing my AE 12's to AE 6's is reasonably legitimate, lol).

My head looks whoa huge in this picture...I swear it's the angle, lol. And dontcha just love my barn boots?
http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._7388650_n.jpg

And I like this one...there was an Equestrian team meet and I was in charge of giving pony rides, haha.
http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._4164372_n.jpg

Megan -- they are cute pictures! I like the last one. Plus, I'm super jealous you get to work with horses. Horses are amazing. Plus, awesome -- 6's!

wow you look AMAZING!!!!!!!! Stunning even on a normal working day

hey Ladies....This is what I used to look like before my baby.
http://i905.photobucket.com/albums/a...e/DSC00088.jpg

Here was me in Sept. UGH! So much stress cause my daughter is sick and it just piled on!
http://i905.photobucket.com/albums/a...ne/cast010.jpg

And now( for now)
http://i905.photobucket.com/albums/a...reene/jan1.jpg

Half way back almost!

Megan - You look SMOKIN' hot! I miss the ranch I used to work at :C AE jeans are my favorite... just how bad is their vanity sizing? Like, if I'm wearing AE 10s right now... what would my real size be?

Sun - Looking good! Keep up the awesome work and you'll be at goal in no time!

Sun, I can see a big difference in your September/now pictures. You're looking great!

Platformnine, thanks :) I pretty much only wear AE jeans, they work the best on my body. That being said, I have gone from an AE size 12 to an AE size 6. And I was looking it up this morning trying to figure out what their vanity sizes are. Some people said AE sizes are one size bigger than "real" sizes (so an AE 10 = a real 12), but there is nothing that determines "real" size. More or less, everything I read said that Gap, Banana Republic, A&F, Old Navy, AND American Eagle all had vanity sizes. Well, that pretty much covers where I shop, so I only care about what their sizes are, lol.

Allison- you look really toned! I wear a Gap 6 skirt as well :)...but an 8 in their pants.

Megan- You look tiny! I haven't tried AE jeans in a 6 but I just got a pair of shorts in a 6 there. I'm usually an 8 (my best jeans from the Gap are an 8, as are my Free People cords), but I'm also a 6 at J Crew and a 10 in some designer jeans. I'm a 2 at Ann Taylor though. Places are just cut differently I think so vanity sizing for some is normal for others, depending on your body shape.

Here is a dress I just got at Charlotte Russe:

http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._6743634_n.jpg

http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos...6_620685_n.jpg

super cute! i love it!

That dress is awesome!! I love dresses but have a hard time finding them because of the "girls"

You look stunning in it

Thanks!

Forest - I always love your new outfit updates :)

Megan - That makes sense lol. I guess Boston Proper probably has vanity sizing, too. Because I'm a 10 at all of the stores I shop at now lol!

Forest - Why are you always so adorable? Love the new dress! :3

Look good, ladies :)

Forest, I love the dress!

Thanks guys :) glad you are not getting too bored of my outfit updates lol...ever since I got into the FA community (fatshionista, yff, the pretty year, etc) I've been kind of obsessed with outfit blogging. Following the fashion shows on Jezebel doesn't help either.

Everyone is looking so great!!

A story here if you care to read. If not, then scroll down and see my new buddy Asia!!!... I have been wanting a dog for 3 years, ever since we got our golden retriever mix Goldie put down. With the 6 cats (was 7 for a while) we accumulated shortly after her passing, a dog has been out of the question. For the last year, and especially in the last couple months, I started explaining my reasoning more to my mom, and I don't know if it was the stress or what, but she agreed to let me get a puppy! So just over a month ago, I was at the pet store and there was a older pup that no one was interested in. She was marked way down because she had lost the puppy look and she was 4 months old, and, she was one of my favorite breeds that I had been considering - Australian Shepherd mixed (with border collie maybe??).

I was so upset that no one would even consider her, since she wasn't some goof ball full of energy romping around the pens, (she was laying down most of the time) and I went up to her, and she got up and we locked eyes, and as they say, it was love at first sight, and I knew she was the dog I wanted. At the time my mom said no way. About a week later, I couldn't get my mind off her and I went to the pet store. I was hoping maybe she was gone so I could stop thinking about it, but she was still there, and her cage was atrocious. She had spilled her water all over and she had eliminated and was stepping in it and tracking it in her little cramped space. The only dry spot was where she had been laying down.

One of the people was feeding them for the night, (keep in mind, NOT CLEANING THEM, she was going to have to lay in it all night because they clean in the mornings. I had never seen the pens like this before) and I got my courage up and when they opened her pen, I asked to take her out and see her. She had the best disposition, excited but reserved, not terrified by any means, and also not bouncing off the walls with energy. My mom was there and we talked it over, (by this time she had agreed that we could get a dog before hand but neither of us thought it would be that soon) and Asia won our hearts that night. She has been my motivation, my hope, my companion, my confidant and a handful to take care of to boot ever since..but so SOOO worth it.. Meet Asia.

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/8818/imgp0520m.jpg
http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/3827/imgp0572.jpg

PS. I know several people advise against getting pups from pet stores. I understand this, and I understand that there is no way for a pet store to truly know its sources, but from my past experience with this pet store, I do know that they deal locally, usually with peoples accidental litters or with private breeders. I get it that getting a pup from a pet store is a risk, but I personally disagree with the notion that you shouldn't get them no matter how bad you feel for them. That just forces these animals into shelters and ultimately to destruction. Why didn't I rescue? I am going to be honest here, I've lived in the country with multiple animals for years. My mom and I have very different views on veterinary care. If it were up to me, every cat we have ever had would of had its shots, spayed, neutered, etc etc. My mom however, has long been a 'let nature take its course' kind of person. Unless and animal is injured or sick, then there is no taking it to the vet. Recently I talked her into getting the cats spayed/neutered and vaccinated for feline leukemia, but as you may well know, when you go to any good rescue or breeder, you are usually supposed to provide information on your past pets, vet references, etc etc, and we simply don't have that information. I told my mom upfront that this was not going to be like the past and that I wanted this dog to have everything it deserved in veterinary care, and I am glad to say that has been upheld.

Phoenix - With that kind of story I look at it as you rescued her from that place - they might have been feeding her, but cleaning is part of the process and I find it ridiculous that they only clean in the morning. I used to work for a shelter that housed cats in PetSmart and we had to clean throughout the day. Especially since she was an older puppy that was unlikely to be selected, don't feel guilty about getting her! She's gorgeous!

Forest - I love to see your pictures ... is like I know your room already .lol.

Phoenix - Asia is adorable! She looks so sweet and lively. And I second platformnine, don't feel guilty about adopting her. She clearly needed some love and attention.

Im a little late posting these, but here is a few pics of my trip to Chicago...

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/f...a/6aab9987.jpg
At the Field Museum:
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/f...a/b51cd41e.jpg
Our anniversary/new years dinner cruise:
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/f...a/9000edfe.jpg
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/f...a/88ea879c.jpg
View of Chicago from the deck of the boat:
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/f...a/d1f31f59.jpg
My first time sledding SOOO much fun:
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/f...a/2e951d57.jpg

Holy crap, forestroad! That dress is so adorable. I need it right now... do you know if they have it online. I'm going to go answer that question for myself right now...

See you all in the new picture thread :)